Loss Prevention Advice
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A Liberian-flagged container ship has sunk after being struck by three maritime drones off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, in the latest attack on commercial shipping in the region.
The vessel, Contship Jet, was attacked on 28 October, approximately 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla, near Cape Kaliakra in northeastern Bulgaria, according to Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov. The Greek-managed container ship was sailing from Haifa, Israel, to Constanța, Romania, with 421 containers on board. The contents of the containers were initially unclear.
Following the attack, the crew abandoned the vessel and were rescued by Bulgarian Navy and border police vessels. The 18 seafarers, comprising 14 Filipino and four Ukrainian nationals, were subsequently taken towards the port of Varna for medical examinations.
As reported, the incident occurred as defence ministers from Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey were meeting in Sofia for trilateral discussions on regional security.
In a joint statement, the three NATO members condemned attacks on commercial vessels and called for an immediate cessation of actions threatening merchant shipping, maritime infrastructure and the safety of maritime operations.
The countries also agreed to strengthen intelligence sharing, early-warning capabilities and coordination to address the growing security threat in the Black Sea.
The strike on Contship Jet follows a series of drone attacks on merchant vessels operating in the exclusive economic zones of Bulgaria and Romania, raising concerns over the security of commercial shipping routes along NATO’s eastern flank.
Several vessels have been attacked in the area in recent weeks, with incidents resulting in ship damage, sinkings, fatalities and missing seafarers. The attacks have intensified concerns about the spillover of Russia’s war against Ukraine into surrounding maritime areas.
The Black Sea has become the most dangerous maritime region for seafarers in 2026, recording more fatalities than the Persian Gulf, despite attracting comparatively less international attention, the Financial Times reported, citing shipowners and maritime organisations.
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A high-voltage isolation near miss during maintenance on a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) tether management system has highlighted the importance of independently verifying electrical isolation before work begins.
Personnel completed the required isolation and earthing procedures but applied them to the wrong system, leaving the equipment being maintained without effective electrical isolation. Although no injuries or damage occurred, the incident exposed workers to potentially severe consequences.
What happened
The Safety Flash describes an incident during planned maintenance inside a high-voltage junction box on a tether management system (TMS). Before starting the task, the ROV team intended to isolate and earth the electrical supply to the system requiring maintenance. However, the isolation arrangements were mistakenly applied to another ROV system.
Believing that the correct equipment had been secured, the team proceeded with maintenance inside the junction box.
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The importance of realistic fire drills and stronger cooperation between shipboard crews and shore-based teams to improve emergency preparedness aboard vehicle-carrying vessels.
The VCSF announced its new Fire Drill Guidelines for Vehicle Carrying Vessels, designed to help operators translate established fire response principles into practical exercises involving both shipboard crews and shore-based emergency teams.
The guidance applies to Pure Car Carriers (PCCs), Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs), RoRo and Ro-Pax vessels, recognizing the different operational challenges associated with vessel design, cargo arrangements and firefighting equipment.
Rather than introducing prescriptive procedures, the publication focuses on how crews make decisions under pressure, coordinate with external responders and adapt when a fire develops beyond the initial response.
From firefighting procedures to realistic emergency scenarios
A central message of the guidelines is that fire drills should test more than the crew’s ability to follow established procedures. Exercises should progressively challenge personnel with situations in which conditions change, resources become limited and initial firefighting efforts prove unsuccessful.
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The Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Sigma Pearl ran aground near Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India, on October 28, 2026, after reportedly losing propulsion during Cyclone Arnab.
The vessel was reportedly traveling from Visakhapatnam to Singapore after discharging a cargo of sulfur when it experienced a suspected engine failure. Strong winds and rough seas subsequently pushed the vessel toward the coast near Antarvedi.
On October 29, the Indian Coast Guard launched a rescue operation involving a helicopter and patrol vessel to assist six crew members reportedly aboard the stranded ship.
Initial reports indicated that the crew were safe, although their evacuation had not been confirmed.
Authorities were monitoring the situation and assessing recovery options.
No confirmed information was available regarding hull damage, pollution or plans to refloat the vessel.